The Frenchie Winery is the only tasting room designed exclusively for dogs. In addition, the first two wines in a series bearing the Frenchie label are available for purchase at the winery http://www.frenchiewinery.com/ and www.wine.com. Each wine label depicts Frenchie as a unique historical figure, including Louis XIV and Napoleon and, soon, Marie Antoinette.

Frenchie, a Dog like No Other

The Frenchie Winery is named for a leader and a revolutionary in his own right, Boisset’s French Bulldog.

“Frenchie was a gift to my beloved wife,” says Vineyards ProprietorJean-Charles Boisset, “to ensure that she would always be in the company of a French gentleman. In fact, Frenchie is the PERFECT French gentleman: he’s loyal, charming, always up for an adventure, and he never talks back! His playful, debonair and aristocratic style is reflected in the winery and the wines.”

Frenchie wanted to ensure that his fellow canines would be well taken care of when their people chose to visit Raymond Vineyards. Inside, the winery includes five individual kennel spaces featuring specially designed wine barrel dog beds. Above the beds, in the “Gallery of Frenchie”, hang canvas portraits depicting Frenchie as historical icons such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Julius Caesar and Marie Antoinette. Overhead, a gorgeous “Barkarrat” chandelier lights up a very special dog friendly tasting bar dispensing water for its guests. An outdoor play area offers canines a special view of Frenchie’s bioDOGnamic vineyard, planted to Bordeaux varieties.

The Frenchie Winery is located at Raymond Vineyards in the Rutherford District of California’s famed Napa Valley wine region.

The “Frenchie” Revolution MMXII

Our interview with Frenchie:

how did you get your name?

Since I am obviously a French Bulldog and my dad’s memory isn’t so good sometimes, he thought Frenchie would be suitable and easy to remember.

what kind of wine do discerning dogs like to drink? what kind of cheese do you like to eat?

I have learned to love nearly every varietal out there, but I am definitely more prone to reds. I feel the color of red brings out the passion in me. Also, although I am a purebred which may lead you to believe that I would like a wine that is 100% of this or 100% of that, I actually enjoy a really good blend. Some of my best friends are blends themselves that unfortunately get referred to as mutts, but I look at them as the finest selections from many different breeds, similar to that of my delicious Napoleon Red Wine.

As far as cheese is concerned… I won’t lie, I love them all!

do you get to stomp on the grapes like Lucy (I Love Lucy)?

We tried that route and yes it is quite a treat to feel those juicy grapes squish between my little toes. But for the sake of time, we decided it made more sense to crush the grapes via our state of the art crusher. We use the best equipment you could imagine so I know that each grape is being cared for exactly as I would want them to be, to ensure the freshest wine possible. My dad is real nice though and always makes sure that at every harvest I get my own little bin that I can squish with my feet for the fun of it.

what do you enjoy about living in the Napa Valley?

Everything! I get to run in the vineyards, go to fancy restaurants and meet famous chefs (who sometimes give me scraps, woof), plus my winery is located in such a beautiful area. I’d say that I have it pretty dog gone good.

cici has a number of doggie pals, mostly boy dogs, milo, pablo, gizmo, teddy and harley. how about you, do you have any doggie gal pals? if so, what do you like to do together?

I have a lot of friends actually and since I opened my winery a couple weeks ago, I seem to be getting more and more every day. Let’s see, there’s Hopper, Rosie, Lillie, Pita, Jordan, Brutus and so many more I can’t keep track of them all. Hopper, Rosie, Lillie and Pita are all ladies, but I look at each of them as my little sister. They’re so much fun to hang out with and now that I have this new venture on my hands, I really don’t have time for a relationship, so I think it’s probably best if we keep our relationship strictly platonic. Brutus, Jordan and I like to hang out and do guy things. Sometimes we’ll watch some football or baseball, but mostly we just lay around and nap.

favorite treat?

Where do I begin?

favorite toy?

My dad’s Maserati. I love driving that thing with my sunglasses on and people always think I’m a movie star. I think they get me mixed up with George Clooney sometimes, but I don’t mind.

favorite color?

Red

do you travel much? if so, where have you been and what did you enjoy there?

I realize that my life is a bit different from your average dog’s, so yes, I have traveled quite a bit. However I must say that although I’ve been to a lot of places, my favorite place to be is right here in the Napa Valley. I have my mom, my dad, my sisters and of course my friends and my winery. What more do I need?

ever gone camping?

Not that I can recall. I hear it’s fun though. I just want to go so I can try a S’mores. I hear those are awesome.

do you like to swim? go to the beach?

Not as much as I used to. The past couple years I have been enjoying my cheese a little too much so I’m not exactly ready for my swim trunks just yet. I’m working on my physique, so I think by summer I’ll be ready to hit the beach again.

are there other animals you like to meet or play with? cats, fish, cows, horses, sheep, goats?

I’ve always wanted to meet a Platypus. I mean, what is it really, a duck, a beaver? I’m confused.

anything you’d like to share?

Just want everyone to know that I would love to have you come visit me at my winery. I think I have something really special here and I would love to show it to you!

Woof!

if you are traveling and need a super dog friendly place to stay right in Rutherford, tell our friend Matt Smith at Rancho Caymus that Cici and I sent you…

NewsHound and Dog Travel Expert

Welcome! I'm CeliaSue, a creative California-based freelance writer who wants to help you travel with your pets and enjoy the ride. I provide reliable travel info for California, and the Southwest USA (occasionally the rest of the country), plus lifestyle inspiration about being a doggie mama on the road with a spoiled yet friendly polka dot princess named Cici. I also write about romance, eco friendly, spiritual, healthy and luxury travel for various publications.

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CeliaSue Hecht is a third-generation American, originally from New York. She has lived much of her adult life in California and Nevada and is a doggie mama and chocoholic plus a proponent of tiny homes and alternative energy and medicine. In the 70’s and 90’s, she taught personal growth workshops and seminars in Los Angeles and Munich, Germany. In the late 1980’s, she traveled around the world for three years with an international, interfaith, interdenominational, intercessory prayer ministry (Bangladesh, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, India, Israel, Singapore, Thailand). She has worked with people with AIDS, fibromyalgia, cancer, people without homes, Holocaust survivors, as well as written about diverse topics such as women’s topics, activism against the Yucca Mountain project in Nevada, alternative health and therapies and travel pieces in numerous magazines and newspapers. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin. Co-author of five romantic travel guides. Go to Paypal and buy CeliaSue a romantic comedy to read on the beach while munching on a chocolate bar.

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